A SPECIALIST children's theatre will formally open its doors this month at the end of a £2.7m project.

The Hullabaloo, next to Darlington's recently refurbished Hippodrome theatre, will be opened officially on Monday, December 11, with the help of schoolchildren in the town.

Pupils of The Rydal Academy in Darlington will visit the theatre after contributing their thoughts to what they wanted inside the new venue for youngsters off Borough Road.

The theatre for families is hoped to become a national centre for young audiences who can watch performances and play and learn in dedicated play spaces.

Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England will join Theatre Hullabaloo staff ahead of a curtain raising performance of Bear and Butterfly on the new stage.